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      Nobody's Fool

      R Released Dec 23, 1994 1 hr. 50 min. Drama List
      91% 57 Reviews Tomatometer 81% 5,000+ Ratings Audience Score Donald "Sully" Sullivan (Paul Newman) is an expert at avoiding adult responsibilities. At 60, he divides all his time between a local bar and the occasional construction job. When his estranged son, Peter (Dylan Walsh), arrives in town, bringing with him a son of his own and a sob story about his failed marriage, Sully finds himself assuming the roles of both father and grandfather. After a life of unchecked self-indulgence, he wonders if he is up to the task. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Mar 05 Buy Now

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      Nobody's Fool

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      Critics Consensus

      It's solidly directed by Robert Benton and stacked with fine performances from an impressive cast, but above all, Nobody's Fool is a showcase for some of Paul Newman's best late-period work.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member Overall, what begins as a slow-paced story about an old man with a limp soon transforms into something far greater than I could have ever expected. It's a touching story about family, friendships and loyalty. Paul Newman once again delivers a fun, likeable and charming character to the screen. While slow to begin with, the film delivers a strong payoff and reward by the third act. There are moments where I generally laughed out loud and other moments that felt gripping, dramatic and heartfelt. In the end, it's just a fun and lovable film that packs great rewards for those who invest in it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/11/23 Full Review Jason The perfect film. Beautiful in every way Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/07/22 Full Review georgan g What a cast of great actors, even the minor roles. Watching a grown man actually grow is some of Paul Newman's best work. Rarely get stories this well done. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review allan c Paul Newman has had a career filled with classic roles, from "The Hustler" to "Cool Hand Luke" to "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" to "The Verdict," and I would argue that his role as Sully in "Nobody's Food" is among his best. Newman plays a divorced small town handyman hustling for jobs, dealing with a bum knee, who's halfheartedly fooling around with the wife (Melanie Griffith) of an ex-boss (an unbilled Bruce Willis), who estranged son unexpectedly turns up with grandkids he's never met. It may sounds like soap opera pablum, but it's so much richer. "Nobody's Fool" is a perfect example of a character driven film and not plot driven. It's all about the characters with no real driving narrative, other than following Sully around town over the course of several days. The characters are all flawed humans, but utterly endearing. After spending a couple hours with Newman, Griffith, Willis, Newman's landlady (Jessica Tandy), the cop with a chip on his shoulder (Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Newman's son (Dylan Walsh), you just want to continue being around these people and see where their lives go. I really just love all these people. On the technical behind the camera side, "Nobody's Fool" was directed and adapted by Robert Benton, who wrote classics such as "Bonnie & Clyde" and "Superman: The Movie" and wrote & directed movies such as "Kramer vs. Kramer" and "Twilight" (the detective movie with Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Susan Sarandon, and Reese Witherspoon, not the sparkly vampire movie). Benton once again delivers a movie that has depth, but presented with an unpretentiousness that recalls classic Hollywood films of Howard Hawks, Otto Preminger, or Ernst Lubitsch. The film's music by Howard Shore is among my all-time favorite scores. It's light, charming, and playful, yet also soulful, which perfectly compliments the tone of the film. And cinematographer John Bailey ("American Gigolo" "The Accidental Tourist" "In the Line of Fire" "As Good as it Gets") brings a lushness to this ordinary snow covered small town. Overall, "Nobody's Fool" is a pretty irresistible film that I think would appeal to just about everyone. It may be a little too saccharine to be perfect, but it's pretty darn close a perfect film. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Great sleeper movie. The plot sounded bland, but it was a really awesome movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review antonis k Packed with great perfomances (especially from Paul Newman) Nobody's Fool is a terrific piece so much when it comes to the comedic parts? as well as the dramatic ones, showcasing the best of them both. (A+) Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Michael Sragow New Yorker The movie is both a star vehicle and an ensemble piece; the other actors revolve around Newman yet give off more than just his reflected light. Oct 29, 2013 Full Review Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune We love to see our movie gods play flawed souls, especially a god with a face that looks like one on a Roman coin. Rated: 3/4 Oct 29, 2013 Full Review Kenneth Turan Los Angeles Times Moviegoing holds few pleasures greater than watching an established star completely inhabit a role that exactly suits his personality and abilities. And seeing Paul Newman in Nobody's Fool defines that pleasure. Oct 29, 2013 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Paul Newman had already delivered so many terrific turns in his lifetime that he hardly needed to continue past retirement age to cement his legendary status. Yet here he's found giving one of the best performances of his career. Rated: 3/4 Dec 23, 2022 Full Review Mal Vincent The Virginian-Pilot Ultimately, it sends us a proud and entertaining message that we can express love for others. Rated: 4/4 Feb 25, 2022 Full Review Jonah Koslofsky The Spool The formula the film follows endears, because Newman is able to make Sully both charming and an enormous screw-up. Feb 4, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Donald "Sully" Sullivan (Paul Newman) is an expert at avoiding adult responsibilities. At 60, he divides all his time between a local bar and the occasional construction job. When his estranged son, Peter (Dylan Walsh), arrives in town, bringing with him a son of his own and a sob story about his failed marriage, Sully finds himself assuming the roles of both father and grandfather. After a life of unchecked self-indulgence, he wonders if he is up to the task.
      Director
      Robert Benton
      Executive Producer
      Michael Hausman
      Screenwriter
      Richard Russo, Robert Benton
      Distributor
      Paramount Pictures
      Production Co
      Cinehaus, Capella International, Paramount Pictures
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Dec 23, 1994, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jul 1, 2013
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $38.3M
      Sound Mix
      Surround, Stereo
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